DEPUTIES ROLL UP SLEEVES FOR BATTLE OF THE BADGES BLOOD DRIVE

DEPUTIES ROLL UP SLEEVES FOR BATTLE OF THE BADGES BLOOD DRIVE

The Doña Ana County Sheriff’s Office will participate in some friendly competition as its personnel enter the first-ever Las Cruces Battle of the Badges Blood Drive Aug. 16-18 at Mesilla Valley Mall.

The event is being hosted by United Blood Services. The Doña Ana County Sheriff’s Office, along with first-responders from the Las Cruces Police Department and Las Cruces Fire Department, will try and get family members, friends, office staff and members of the public to donate blood on behalf of their favorite badged heroes.

“This is an opportunity to show our community that being ready to respond in an emergency situation isn’t always about law enforcement answering the call of duty,” said Doña Ana County Sheriff Todd Garrison. “When emergencies happen and our blood supply is threatened, we’ve already missed our time to act. We need to prepare now and keep those blood supplies stocked and ready.”

Officials with United Blood Services say keeping a safe and adequate blood supply during the summer months is challenging. Increased traffic contributes to higher numbers of motor vehicle crashes, which can threaten blood supplies.

“In our area, about 5 percent of the population provides for 100 percent of our blood needs,” said Monique Hilverding, a donor recruitment representative for United Blood Services. “Every two seconds, someone needs blood. That’s why blood drives like Battle of the Badges are so crucial: They help encourage more people to sign up and donate.”

The Battle of the Badges will take place inside the Mesilla Valley Mall on Friday, Aug. 16, and Saturday, Aug. 17, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and on Sunday, Aug. 18, from noon to 6 p.m. Participants donate blood on behalf of one law enforcement agency – the Doña Ana County Sheriff’s Office, Las Cruces Police Department, or the Las Cruces Fire Department – and will also receive a free t-shirt.
The agency that garners the most donations in its name wins a trophy and bragging rights.
The Doña Ana County Special Deputy Sheriff Commission will also host an Ident-a-Child booth on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the blood drive for parents who wish to collect DNA and fingerprint information for their children, free of charge.

For more information on how to donate blood, or to reserve a spot at Battle of the Badges, call (575) 527-1322 or visit www.unitedbloodservices.org to complete a health-history questionnaire.

Drop-ins at Mesilla Valley Mall during Battle of the Badges also are welcome.
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Reporters seeking more information or interviews may call Doña Ana County Sheriff's Department Public Information Communication Specialist Kelly Jameson at (575) 386-4302 or after hours at (575) 635-7168.